Value input mechanism for calculating machines

ABSTRACT

A ten-key calculating machine has a value input mechanism comprising a transversely moveable set pin carriage having a plurality of set pins corresponding to the values of 1 to 9 and positioned in individual tens series. A plurality of value selector members are engageable with actuated set pins in descending order from the 9 value so that each value member moves through a number of value divisions corresponding to the complement of 9 as it moves to abut an actuated set pin and indicate the value of the actuated key corresponding to this set pin.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,869,081 Haberkorn 1 Mar. 4, 1975 VALUEINPUT MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Primary Ermniner-Stephen .l.Tomsky [75] Inventor: Otto Haberkom, Gerstenen, Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Edmund M. Jaskiewicz Germany [73] Assrgnee: Walther BuromaschlnenGmbH, 57] ABSTRACT Gerstetten, Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 11, 1972 Aten-key calculating machine has a value input mechanism comprising atransversely moveable set pin [21] Appl' 296553 carriage having aplurality of set pins corresponding to the values of l to 9 andpositioned in individual tens [30] Foreign Application Priority Dataseries. A plurality of value selector members are en- Oct. 20, 1971Germany 2152159 gageable with actuated P in descending Order from the 9value so that each value member moves 52 0.3. CI 235/60 TK, 235/60 Rthrough a number of value divisions Corresponding 10 51 Int. Cl. G06C29/00 the Complement of 9 as it moves I0 abut an actuated 58 Field ofSearch 235/60 TK, 60 R Set P and indicate the value of the actuated keyresponding to this set pin. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSWestinger et al 235/60 TK 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures VALUE INPUTMECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES The present invention relates to thevalue input mechanism of a ten-key calculating machine, moreparticularly, to the sensing by value selector members of set pins movedin response to an actuated value key on the keyboard.

Ten-key calculating machines have been constructed utilizing a set pincarriage which is moveable transversely stepwise in response toactuation of the value keys on the keyboard. Actuation of these keysintroduces a value into the set pin carriage from which the values arethen transferred by value selector members sensing actuated set pinsinto totalizing and printing units.

The set pin carriage of such a calculating machine comprises a pluralityof tens series of set pins with each series including pins to 8 with thenumber of series corresponding to the digital position capacity of themachine. Generally, a stop bar is positioned to the right of theselector members for the nine set pins. The'set pin carriage faces thevalue selector members on such ten-key calculating machines as disclosedin the German patents l,010,299 and 1,084,997. The principle ofoperation of such ten-key calculating machines was also described in thesecond edition of the book by Wilhelm Lind, Bueromaschinen [OfficeMachines] published by Wintersche Verlagsbuchhandlung part 1, pages107-117.

In this known construction of a calculating machine, during an operatingcycle of the machine when no previous value has been introduced into themachine the movement of every selector member moving past the 0 value inthe direction of increasing value must be stopped by a 0 stop bar. Thisstop bar was either fixedly mounted within the machine or is mounted-onthe set pin carriage so as to be displaceable thereof and was positionedto the left of and beside the 0 pin series. This 0'stop bar which isthen situated to the left of the selector members, asviewed by theoperator of the calculating machine, when all digital positions of themachine have been utilized thus determines the structural width of themachine in the direction toward the left. This is a disadvantageousrelationship since the calculating machine must be made wider thanfunctionally required with this extra'being to accommodate the 0 stopbar.

The selector members which may comprise differential racks can be guidedalong straight lines upon guide rails or be pivotable about a pivotpoint when in the form of rack segments. In addition, in order toaccommodate the total and subtotal operations of the machine the set pincarriage must be moved from the abutment position of the selectormembers or the selector members must be guided through a vertical ortransverse displacement away from the 0 stop of the set pin carriage.The additional components necessary to accommodate this movement of theset pin carriage or displacement of the selector members requires aconsiderable volume which in turn also contributes to the unnecessarilyincreased overall dimensions of the machine.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providein a calculating machine a novel and improved set pin carriage whosesimplified construction enables the overall dimensions of the carriageto be substantially reduced.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in acalculating machine a set pin carriage constructed to enable the machineto have a relatively narrower lateral dimension and which eliminates thefunctional'components ordinarily required for totaling and subtotalingoperations.

The objects of the present invention are attained and the disadvantagesof the prior art as described above are eliminated by the presentinvention.

According to one aspect of the present invention a ten-key calculatingmachine has a value input mechanism which is responsive to the valuesintroduced by actuating keys of a keyboard. The mechanism comprises aset pin carriage which is transversely moveable stepwise in response toactuation of the keys. A plurality of set pins are provided on thecarriage corresponding to the values of 1 to 9 and positioned inindividual tens series. A plurality of value selector members areemployed for transferring values into a totalizer and a printer and areengageable with actuated set pins in descending order in the directionof the values from 9 to 1. Thus, each value selector member movesthrough a number of value divisions corresponding to the complement of 9and this movement of a selector member is indicative of the value of theactuated key.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentupon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings, Which are exemplary, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view as seen from the rightside of a calculating machine with the components thereof being shown intheir initial positions; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view looking in the direction of the arrow A ofFIG. 1 and showing the relative positions of the keyboard, the set pincarriage and the value selector members.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicatethe same parts throughout the various views a specific embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in detail.

As may-be seen in FIG. 1, values are introduced in a known manner intothe calculating machine by means of digital keys 1 to 9, a 0 key, and 00key on a ten-key keyboard 1. The keyboard also includes severalfunctional keys as known in the art. Positioned below the keyboard is aset pin carriage 2 which is moved transversely within the machine by asuitable mechanism upon actuation of the keys as known in thecalculating machine art. The set pin carriage 2 comprises a plurality ofset pins 3 which are actuated upon depression of a key. The set pinscorrespond -to the values of 1 to 9 and are positionedfin a plurality ofindividual tens series with each series corresponding to a tens ordigital position on the machine. As viewed in FIG. 2, the set pincarriage 2 will move to the left by a tens division after each actuationof a key so that the actuated pins of several series represent a valueto be introduced into the machine. Each series of set pins is alignedwith the sliding movement of value selector members'4. Each of theselector members 4 carries a relatively moveable toothed rack 17cooperating with a counter having addition and subtraction wheels. Therack 17 is displaced by an indicated value on its respective selectormember 4 by means of a spring 18. The movement of each selector member 4is determined by the abutment of the selector member with an actuatedset pin 3.

The value selector members 4'are released bya collector shaft 9 mountedon a pivotally mounted lever 8.

Upon release of the selector members 4 tension spring mentary valueswhich are indicative of the keyed-in values are transferred into acounter 11 which operates as an adding unit for the addition functionand also in the subtraction function. These complementary values areintroduced into this counter without any manipulations or controlactions by the operator of the machine.

As a specific example, in FIG. 1 the set pin corresponding to thekeyed-in value of 6 has been actuated and extends in a downward positionso as to be engageable by the sensing edge 13 of a selector member 4.This sensing edge will be in the position 13' upon contact with thisactuated set pin. The rack 17 of this selector member has thus beendisplaced only three value divisions from its initial position. For thevalue, the rack 17 of selector member 4 will be displaced over 9 valuedivisions until an abutment on selector'member 4 contacts a cross-piecewhich also slideably supports the selector members. In the 0 positionthe abutment will be as indicated at 5' and the sensing edge of theselector member will be in position 13" in which position the sensingedge is merely suspended and is not in contact with any set pin or stopbar. This means that 0 pins and the 0 stop bar as known in the prior artdescribed above can be eliminated. This results in a reduction of thelateral dimension ofthe set pin carriage by about 50 percent and,further, the set pin carriage can be made smaller by one value divisionin the longitudinal direction of the machine. This reduction alsocontributes to a reduction in the overall longitudinal dimension of themachine, This will be apparentfrom the extreme left position 2" of theset pin carriage as seen in FIG. 2. Further, the elimination of thisstructure in connection with the set pin carriage will reduce the weightand therefore the mass of the carriage.

A digit type wheel 12 of the printing unit which is not illustratedcomprises a toothed sector which meshes with selector rack member 4 bymeans of an intermediate gear 19. The type wheel 12 is positioned tocorrespond with the complementary values and in the same manner asselector members 4 moves from the highest value position to the lowestvalue position or, from 9 to 0 position. In this manner, the type wheel12 is pivoted through the corresponding number of value divisions inaccordance with the displacement of selector rack member 4 and inaccordance with the above specific example the value 6 is positioned inthe printing position in front of a platen 14. Although the value 6 willbe printed, the counter 11 will receive the value 3 which is thecomplement of 9 corresponding to the value 9 as keyed-into the set pincarriage. The representative value of 3 may be positive or negative inaccordance with the actuated function key. At the same time, tensswitching is achieved by means of a tensand the selector members 4function as simple sensing push rods.

In order to clarify further the operation of the calculating machinedisclosed here-in there is provided the following example ofcalculation:

Keyed-in Values transferred Printed values into computing unit values215.50 99 99999784.49 215.50 72.36 9999999 27.63 72.36 190.40 999999809.59 190.40 7.18 999999999 .81 7.18 16.00 9999999983.99 16.00 20.00999999997999 20.00 99999993l2.9l 687.08

These values Total in Thus it can be seen that the present invention hasdisclosed a value input mechanism for a calculating machine whereinthose value selector members corresponding to the tens series of setpins which are not actuated move over a distance of 9 value divisions tothe 0 value. This is evidenced by reference to the above example ofcomputation. Since the thin edge of each value selector member functionsas the sensing structure no additional structure is employed on thevalue selector members for the sensing function. Since the set pins arearranged with respect to the sensing edge of the value selector members'indes'cending value the number of value divisions that a selectormember moves will correspond to the complement of 9 of the value of theactuated digital key. All of the computations in the machinecorresponding to the actuated function key are thus carried outwith'complement val- -ues of the keyed-in values. The result is asimplified and more compact set pin carriage which enables the overalldimensions of the calculating machine to be significantly reduced.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, andaccordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as ably mounted value selector members each comprising amovable toothed rack arranged in substantially a straight line and eachselector member corresponding to an 1 individual tens series of setpins, said value selector members being released by a collector shaftmounted on a pivotally mounted-lever, totalizer and printer meansoperatively actuated by said value selector members to receive valuestherefrom, each value selector member having a portion thereonengageable with an actuated set pin in a corresponding tens series foractuated values of from 1 to 9, means connected to each value selectormember for moving said members in an actuated direction, the set pins ofeach tens series being arranged in descending order from 9 to l in theactuated direction of said value selector members whereby, for allcalculating operations each value selector member moves in the actuateddirection through a number of value divisions corresponding to thecomplement of 9 as an indication of the value of the actuated key.

2. In a calculating machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valueselector member corresponding to the tens series of set pins which arenot actuated moves in the actuated direction past all of the set pins inthe corresponding tens series over 9 value divisions to the 0 value.

3. In a calculating machine as claimed in claim 2 and comprising anabutment on each value selector member, and a cross-piece membersupporting and guiding the movement of said selector members and engagetions to indicate 0 values.

1. In a ten-key calculating maching, a value input mechanism responsiveto the values introduced by actuating keys of a keyboard, comprising asingle set pin carriage transversely moveable stepwise in response toactuation of the keys, a plurality of set pins on said carriagecorresponding to the values of 1 to 9 and positioned in individual tensseries, and a plurality of moveably mounted value selector members eachcomprising a movable toothed rack arranged in substantially a straightline and each selector member corresponding to an individual tens seriesof set pins, said value selector members being released by a collectorshaft mounted on a pivotally mounted lever, totalizer and printer meansoperatively actuated by said value selector members to receive valuestherefrom, each value selector member having a portion thereonengageable with an actuated set pin in a corresponding tens series foractuated values of from 1 to 9, means connected to each value selectormember for moving said members in an actuated direction, the set pins ofeach tens series being arranged in descending order from 9 to 1 in theactuated direction of said value selector members whereby, for allcalculating operations each value selector member moves in the actuateddirection through a number of value divisions corresponding to thecomplement of 9 as an indication of the value of the actuated key.
 2. Ina calculating machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the value selectormember corresponding to the tens series of set pins which are notactuated moves in the actuated direction past all of the set pins in thecorresponding tens series over 9 value divisions to the 0 value.
 3. In acalculating machine as claimed in claim 2 and comprising an abutment oneach value selector member, and a cross-piece member supporting andguiding the movement of said selector members and engageable by saidvalue selector member abutment to stop the selector member in a positionpast all of the set pins to indicate a 0 value.
 4. In a calculatingmachine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engageable portion of eachvalue selector member comprises a thin end edge thereof which isengageable with aN actuated set pin of its corresponding tens series sothat said selector members can move freely past said set pins for totalsand subtotals to positions to indicate 0 values.